MPTC keen on more investments in Cebu

CEBU , Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) plans to pour in more investments in Cebu where it is currently building a P30-billion toll bridge, while also eyeing a potential entry in Davao.

MPTC president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco said the company is keen on expanding its investment in Cebu through possible extension of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) and the construction of other toll roads.

“The economics of the tollroad is you start with one road and you grow and expand that and it’s logical that we look at expanding our investment in Cebu,” Franco said.

“That’s why while the CCLEX is under construction, we are already looking at prospects of extending the expressway further in Mactan Island, possibly pushing it all the way to Lapu-Lapu City. There are studies ongoing to secure another project in that area,” he said.

CCLEX is an 8.5-kilometer toll bridge being undertaken by MPTC in partnership with the Cebu City government and Cordova municipality.

The project, which has a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour and a navigational clearance or height of 51 meters so as to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge, is set for completion by August next year.

Franco said MPTC is also looking at the Cebu island side for other possible road projects which the company can construct and develop to complement the CCLEX.

“There are some other Visayas cities that we’re also looking at, but as I said, in terms of prospects, Cebu is more promising primarily because we are already constructing and it is logical that we look for ways to expand the network further,” he said.

Aside from Cebu and other cities in the Visayas, Franco said MPTC is also monitoring developments in Mindanao areas.

“Davao of course is enticing with all the activities there,” he said.

MPTC, the toll road arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the country.

It currently operates the 84-km North Luzon Expressway, 94-km Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway and the 14-km Cavite Expressway.

MPTC also has two other toll concessions currently under construction, namely the 45-km Cavite Laguna Expressway and the eight-km NLEX-SLEX Connector Road.

It has expanded its business in other ASEAN countries namely, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.